Villa Turkuaz

Villa Turkuaz is in peaceful Faralya village, about 15km south of Ölüdeniz and 30km south of Fethiye. The villa is in a rural and quiet spot and is perfect for escaping the hustles and bustles of modern-day life. If you’d like to venture out, it’s only a short drive to local restaurants and bars where you can try authentic Turkish cuisine like Köfte, balls of beef or lamb, served with yoghurt.

For adventure lovers, you can join the Lycian Way – a popular way-marked footpath which traverses around the coast of Lycia, from Fethiye to Antalya. Highlights along the trail include spectacular views over the coast from above Kas and Kalkan, the castle, harbour and sunken ruins at Ucagiz and the breath-taking descent to Faralya, above the cliffs of Butterfly Valley – a nature reserve that’s home to diverse butterfly species. You can join the trail for a short day trip or a more extended overnight stay with camping spots along the route.

In Ölüdeniz, about a 30-minute drive from the villa, you can swim in the famous blue lagoon or relax on Belcekız Beach, with crystal-clear waters and a soft, white sandy shoreline. The vibrant and lively port city of Fethiye is also within driving distance, and there you’ll find a shopping centre, alongside restaurants and cultural sites. You can head to the harbour lined with water-front bars or rock tombs like the 4th-century B.C. Tomb of Amyntas. There’s also a fish market and other markets selling everything from handmade rugs to fresh produce. At the market, you can usually sample delicious gözleme (thin dough crepes) and then finish off your day at one of the Turkish Baths for a relaxing massage or detox in the sauna.

Read more about Fethiye

Situated on the ancient city of Telmessos, Fethiye is named after one of its most famous ‘sons’, the aviator Fethi Bey. An earthquake in 1957 damaged central Fethiye, so many of its buildings have been built since then.You can, however, see a Lycian theatre, Lycian tombs (including the rock tomb of Amyntas) and visit the Fethiye museum for more history and artefacts. The centre of Fethiye boasts a covered market area, half of which is given over to the local fish market where you can choose your catch from one of the centre stalls and then get it cooked in any of the surrounding restaurants. The whole of the area is shadowed by the mountain of Babadag where paragliders take to the skies, landing on the beach at Olu Deniz.

Fethiye’s Tuesday market is worth a visit. Traders come from the outlying villages to sell the wares from their smallholdings. Furrowed browed men with cloth caps, and ladies in floral bloomers will sell their produce amongst the lads trying to get you to buy their designer fakes! It’s all in good humour. Try a little bartering and see if you can do some good business. Go to the spice stall and you will get some amazing spices. Look for the Kar Serbeti, like a cinnamon slush or Ayran, a salty yoghurt drink both guaranteed to cool you down.

Olu Deniz & Calis are where people tend to flock for a beach but there are now a few private beach clubs along the coast between Olu Deniz and Fethiye which are worth a visit. There are also beach clubs situated around the lagoon, all with sunbeds, restaurants and drinks service. Hisaronu is more commercialised and hosts a large selection of bars, restaurants and gift shops.